Different degrees of right-to-left shunting predict migraine and stroke: data from 420 patients

Neurology. 2006 Mar 14;66(5):765-7. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000201271.75157.5a.

Abstract

The authors analyzed the extent of right-to-left shunting in patients with migraine, patients with cryptogenic stroke, and controls. Patients with both migraine and stroke had larger shunts than did patients with migraine without stroke (p = 0.038), patients with no migraine with stroke (p = 0.007), and control patients (p < 0.0001). Patients with migraine have overall larger shunts than nonmigraineurs, particularly if they have had a stroke. Right-to-left shunting may be causally related to migraine and to the increased stroke risk of migraine.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Migraine Disorders / complications
  • Migraine Disorders / diagnostic imaging
  • Migraine Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / diagnostic imaging
  • Stroke / physiopathology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial